A Late Mesh Infection after Surgical Repair of an Abdominal Incisional Hernia

Abstract

A late mesh infection after surgical repair of an abdominal incisional hernia using a Composix Kugel Patch^® (CKP) is reported. A 70-year-old man had undergone repair of an abdominal incisional hernia using a CKP in 20005. In 2016, he required surgery for an enterocutaneous fistula due to a late mesh infection. The cause was turnover of the expanded polytetrafluoroethylene sheet to the peritoneal side, exposure of the polypropylene mesh in the peritoneal cavity, and formation of a small bowel fistula.
The CKP and enterocutaneous fistula were removed, and the abdominal wall was reconstructed using a component separation technique (CST). CST does not require a mesh and can be used in surgery for an infection. This is a useful technique that should be considered as an option for abdominal wall reconstruction in cases associated with a large fascial defect and infection.